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Psychedelic Tree 

5.9

   
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Type: Trad, 3 pitches, 350 feet
Consensus: 5.9 [details]
FA: 
Submitted By: 426 on Mar 8, 2007

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (21)
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BETA PHOTO: Before: Scary loose blocks and potential "death fl...

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Description 

A nice but somewhat dirty route that has a unique topout!

P1-follow steep shallow corners and cracks to a decent ledge.

P2-a short pitch (technical crux) over a small roof to the base of the "Tree"

P3-climb the tree! Step off the top (very airy when windy!!!) of the tree.

Variation: climb 5.11 roof (might be dirty).


Location 

100' or so right of the lines on "The Line" lies the start.

Walk off standard east wall descent.

Obvious landmarks are "The Tree" itself.


Protection 

Standard rack, heavier on smaller stuff. I actually got a 6" tube chock in one time, but it's not very necessary.



Photos of Psychedelic Tree Slideshow Add Photo
Now: No more loose blocks or potential "death flake," just a great stem that protects well.

BETA PHOTO: Now: No more loose blocks or potential "death flak...

Coming up to the belay of the first pitch

Coming up to the belay of the first pitch

Starting up the second pitch

Starting up the second pitch

Getting into the roof

Getting into the roof

A wild finish variation.

BETA PHOTO: A wild finish variation.


Comments on Psychedelic Tree Add Comment
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By caughtinside
From: Oakland CA
Sep 4, 2007

We did this climb in 2 pitches:

p1: 190' rope stretcher to the good ledge. This pitch had interesting climbing, but I couldn't enjoy it because everything was LOOSE. I probably tapped about 12 holds that wiggled, and another dozen hollow flakes. I thought this pitch was scary and I only followed it. Tell your belayer to take care in case you accidentally trundle something on them. I hated this pitch.

p2: 130' to the top. This pitch by contrast was great! Only a couple small loose things, and fun climbing with varied movement. At the finish you can either climb the tree or finish on the steep roofs which go at a moderate .9 and protect well, really pretty cool!

I've been told you can do Deviate to the ledge, and so avoid that junky first pitch. I think I'm going to try that next time, because the first pitch stunk and the second pitch was great.

By Bill Kelly
From: Lake Tahoe
May 12, 2008

Happy to report, the Line's "Ugly Sibling" had a facejob. No more loose blocks with "unclear attachment" or potential "life threatening ginsu flake chop" on the first pitch. All gone. In its place a lovely section of stemming opportunity that protects bomber. Now your beloved belayer can stand directly below you with greater peace of mind. Now nothing prevents this route from becoming as popular if not more popular than the Line. P.S. Definitely two pitches not three, in my opinion, first all the way to the ledge, second to the top.

Regarding introductory route description: Climbing the tree is the variation. Turning the roof is no harder than 5.9 and protects well.

By Rick D
From: Reno, NV
May 14, 2009

Climbed this yesterday. Most of the big death blocks have been removed from the first pitch. There are still a hand full of smaller loose blocks, just tap the holds before you pull. There is still a good size loose half way up the second pitch.

By M.Morley
Administrator
From: Sacramento, CA
Jul 20, 2010

FA: Bruce Cooke & TM Herbert, 1968

By Aerili
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 20, 2010
rating: 5.9

This route is simply superb. It is certainly on par with The Line; not quite as clean but much more sustained and with more technical moves. I would argue pitch 1 is more difficult than pitch 1 of The Line, and the first 40 feet requires top notch stemming technique a la Hospital Corner. To make it all the way to the ledge, the climbing will require you to dig deep in your arsenal of mental stamina and, in my opinion, seemed more challenging than pitch 2.

I only encountered two loose blocks on this route, and although they get your blood going at first touch, they are easy to maneuver around.

Call me crazy, but I thought this wild roof was easier than the roof on The Line! And way more fun!!!! This route is definitely one of my new favorite climbs at the Leap.

By Ben Broche
Sep 1, 2011

This route is simply stellar, one of the best and most underrated at the Leap. I went up it in fall 2010. There were a couple loose sections on P1 and P2 (check before you go railing off a jug), but really not anything super sketchy.

You do not have to even touch the tree at the top to do this route - not sure if it makes it harder, but there is an absolutely amazing airy mantle finish out rock with great (but blind) pro. I never thought I would do a V0/V1 boulder mantle 500 feet off the ground at the top of a trad climb! The finish makes this fun route simply classic...DO IT!

By Evan Riley
From: San Francisco, CA
Sep 6, 2011
rating: 5.9

Climbed in two pitches with a 60 meter rope. The death blocks were off the wall (and on the ground at the base of the route), but the route was still dirty. If cleaned it would be a leap classic.

By fivefun
Jul 22, 2012

This climb is fun and underrated.

We climbed this route today and it is still in need of some cleaning (I'm happy to help with some instruction). A small amount of suspect rock remains but there is definitely enough for safe climbing. I found the first two pitches to be full on 5.8/9 climbing, comprable to The Line. The roof finish was memorable and exciting. Psychedelic Tree is well on its way to being a leap classic.

By M.Morley
Administrator
From: Sacramento, CA
Jul 29, 2012

Pitch lengths:
P1: 185' to ledge
P2: ~115' to top

By Bill Kelly
From: Lake Tahoe
Aug 30, 2012

First pitch now has a pin at the crux.

This seems unnecessary as area already protects well.